Ukraine says Zelenskyy says $61 billion aid approval from US shows Ukraine will not be abandoned
Ukraine's president spoke about the U.S. vote on Saturday. House of Representatives Passing a long-delayed $61 billion military aid package showed the country would not be abandoned by the West in its efforts to fight Russian aggression.
Voldomir Zelenskiy said in an interview on US television. What the vote showed Ukraine will not become a “second Afghanistan” whose pro-Western government collapsed during the US-led withdrawal in summer 2021.
Ukraine's president has urged the U.S. Senate to quickly ratify the aid package, saying the country is preparing to defend itself, fearing a major Russian attack before fresh supplies reach the front lines. I warned you that there was.
“We really need to get this to the finish line. We need to get Senate approval… so we get concrete support to our front-line soldiers as soon as possible, not just another six months.” “We can do that,” he said.
The Senate is expected to come out of recess on Tuesday to take its first vote on the package, as it already did in February, and US President Joe Biden has vowed to sign the bill quickly after Congress passes it. are doing. .
That would end months of controversy in which Donald Trump-backed Republicans in the House of Representatives had refused permission. ukraine The aid was part of a larger aid package with money for Israel and Taiwan, and was scheduled to be debated in the House of Commons.
The United States could only promise $300 million in military aid to Ukraine this year after the budget pre-approved by Congress ran out, resulting in deteriorating front-line positions and a lack of artillery in Avdiivka in eastern Donbas. led to the loss of and other munitions.
But more than a week ago, following Iranian drone and missile attacks on Israel using tactics similar to Russia's attack on Ukraine, Republican opposition has waned and some right-wing politicians have begun to push back against Israel and Ukraine. The need to provide further support was highlighted.
U.S. officials say some of the weapons are being stored in warehouses in Europe and will be sent to Ukraine as soon as Biden decides exactly what to supply in the first round, once the full funding is approved. Indicates that it is ready to be transferred.
Zelenskiy said his immediate priorities are air defense systems such as the American-made Patriot and long-range missiles such as the Atakum, which has a range of 300 kilometers and which the House of Representatives wants the Pentagon to quickly deliver.
“We need long-range weapons so that we don't lose people on the front lines, because we can't get that far and we're getting casualties. Our weapons aren't that long-range. We need them. [that] And air defense. Those are our priorities right now,” the president said in an interview with NBC News.
It is believed that Ukraine has only two anti-missile systems “Patriot”, one of which is used for the defense of Kiev, and the other is deployed near the battlefield, de facto the country's Most remain at risk.
Russia has targeted and destroyed multiple power plants with multiple missiles, causing power shortages in some parts of the country, including Kharkov, the country's second largest city with a population of 1.3 million. A power plant south of Kiev was destroyed overnight in a similar attack a little more than a week ago.
Summarize this content to 100 words Ukraine's president spoke about the U.S. vote on Saturday. House of Representatives Passing a long-delayed $61 billion military aid package showed the country would not be abandoned by the West in its efforts to fight Russian aggression.Voldomir Zelenskiy said in an interview on US television. What the vote showed Ukraine will not become a “second Afghanistan” whose pro-Western government collapsed during the US-led withdrawal in summer 2021.Ukraine's president has urged the U.S. Senate to quickly ratify the aid package, saying the country is preparing to defend itself, fearing a major Russian attack before fresh supplies reach the front lines. I warned you that there was.”We really need to get this to the finish line. We need to get Senate approval… so we get concrete support to our front-line soldiers as soon as possible, not just another six months.” “We can do that,” he said.The Senate is expected to come out of recess on Tuesday to take its first vote on the package, as it already did in February, and US President Joe Biden has vowed to sign the bill quickly after Congress passes it. are doing. .That would end months of controversy in which Donald Trump-backed Republicans in the House of Representatives had refused permission. ukraine The aid was part of a larger aid package with money for Israel and Taiwan, and was scheduled to be debated in the House of Commons.The United States could only promise $300 million in military aid to Ukraine this year after the budget pre-approved by Congress ran out, resulting in deteriorating front-line positions and a lack of artillery in Avdiivka in eastern Donbas. led to the loss of and other munitions.But more than a week ago, following Iranian drone and missile attacks on Israel using tactics similar to Russia's attack on Ukraine, Republican opposition has waned and some right-wing politicians have begun to push back against Israel and Ukraine. The need to provide further support was highlighted.U.S. officials say some of the weapons are being stored in warehouses in Europe and will be sent to Ukraine as soon as Biden decides exactly what to supply in the first round, once the full funding is approved. Indicates that it is ready to be transferred.Zelenskiy said his immediate priorities are air defense systems such as the American-made Patriot and long-range missiles such as the Atakum, which has a range of 300 kilometers and which the House of Representatives wants the Pentagon to quickly deliver.“We need long-range weapons so that we don't lose people on the front lines, because we can't get that far and we're getting casualties. Our weapons aren't that long-range. We need them. [that] And air defense. Those are our priorities right now,” the president said in an interview with NBC News.It is believed that Ukraine has only two anti-missile systems “Patriot”, one of which is used for the defense of Kiev, and the other is deployed near the battlefield, de facto the country's Most remain at risk.Russia has targeted and destroyed multiple power plants with multiple missiles, causing power shortages in some parts of the country, including Kharkov, the country's second largest city with a population of 1.3 million. A power plant south of Kiev was destroyed overnight in a similar attack a little more than a week ago.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/21/approval-of-61bn-aid-from-us-shows-ukraine-will-not-be-abandoned-says-zelenskiy Ukraine says Zelenskyy says $61 billion aid approval from US shows Ukraine will not be abandoned
